Automated text-to-speech conversion, such as driving mode voice memo

ABSTRACT

Various embodiments generally relate to systems and methods for creation of voice memos while an electronic device is in a driving mode. In some embodiments, a triggering event can be used to indicate that the electronic device is within a car or about to be within a car and that text communications should be translated (e.g., via an application or a conversion platform) into a voice memo that can be played via a speaker. These triggering events can include a manual selection or an automatic selection based on a set of transition criteria (e.g., electronic device moving above a certain speed, following a roadway, approaching a location in a map of a marked car, etc.).

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/894,635, filed on Jun. 5, 2020, entitled AUTOMATED TEXT-TO-SPEECHCONVERSION, SUCH AS DRIVING MODE VOICE MEMO, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/424,731, filed on Feb. 3, 2017,entitled AUTOMATED TEXT-TO-SPEECH CONVERSION, SUCH AS DRIVING MODE VOICEMEMO, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Modern communication networks and electronic devices have changed theway individuals in society interact and communicate. These devicesincreasingly provide advanced computing capabilities along with avariety of other features and options that improve the user's experiencewith the device. Some common examples of the features and optionsinclude e-mail, cameras, Wi-Fi, SMS and MMS messaging, web browsers,voice/video calling, image and video capturing, and GPS capabilities. Inaddition to these common features and options, modern electronic devicesoften include operating systems that can run software applications onone or more processors. The software applications can be installed(e.g., by the manufacturer, mobile carrier, or by the user) on thesedevices to perform a variety of specific tasks and/or extend thefunctionality of the devices.

As these networks and devices have evolved so has the ease at whichusers interact with the features and options. However, the use of thesefeatures can be distracting as users look at the screen. This can beparticularly unsafe during a variety of activities, such as, driving.For example, users of these electronics devices will often look at thescreen of an electronic device to use e-mail, read or send an SMSmessage, surf the web browsers, enter destinations, and/or use otherfeatures while driving. As a result, new techniques are needed toprovide users of these electronic devices better ways to interact withthe electronic devices without the need to look at the screen when theirattention is needed to perform another activity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present technology will be described and explainedthrough the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a communications environment in whichsome embodiments of the present technology may be utilized;

FIG. 2 illustrates a set of components within an electronic deviceaccording to one or more embodiments of the present technology;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a set of operations for automaticallygenerating and playing a voice memo in accordance with some embodimentsof the present technology;

FIG. 4 is flowchart illustrating a set of operations for replying to avoice memo in accordance with various embodiments of the presenttechnology;

FIG. 5 is an example of a graphical user interface that may be used inaccordance with some embodiments of the present technology;

FIG. 6 is an example of a sequence diagram illustrating communicationsbetween various components that may be used in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present technology; and

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a computer systemizationaccording to various embodiments of the present technology.

The drawings have not necessarily been drawn to scale. Similarly, somecomponents and/or operations may be separated into different blocks orcombined into a single block for the purposes of discussion of some ofthe embodiments of the present technology. Moreover, while thetechnology is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms,specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawingsand are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not tolimit the technology to the particular embodiments described. On thecontrary, the technology is intended to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the technologyas defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments generally relate to systems and methods for creationof voice memos while an electronic device is in a driving mode.Traditionally, when a user of an electronic device gets an email via ane-mail account (e.g., Yahoo, Outlook, Gmail, etc.), that e-mail willpop-up on the electronic device's screen (with or without soundnotification) based on the notification settings set for that account.With this notification a user can only see the sender and the subject ofthe e-mail received on the electronic device. If a user wants to checkbody/content of the e-mail, then the user typically needs to unlock theelectronic device and then has to manually go to that e-mail account toreview the message. As such, the process involved in trying to reviewthe contents of an e-mail body while driving is very risky as it maydistract a user from driving and may result in an accident.

Various embodiments allow for the monitoring of a triggering event toindicate that the electronic or mobile device is within a car or aboutto be within a car. These triggering events can include a manualselection or an automatic selection based on a set of transitioncriteria (e.g., electronic device moving above a certain speed,following a roadway, approaches a location in a map of a marked car,etc.). For example, before a user starts driving a car, the user canmanually place the electronic device in a driving mode. In anembodiment, e-mail and text message notifications are disabled bydefault while the electronic device is in driving mode, therebypreventing the display of e-mail or text messages on the electronicdevice while driving mode is active. Similarly, the electronic devicemay use a set of sensors and transition logic to automaticallytransition from a non-driving mode to a driving mode without any inputfrom the user.

In accordance with various embodiments, the driving mode can enable theconversion of all (or a selected group) of the incoming messages (e.g.,SMS messages, e-mails, push notifications, etc.) to a voice memo. Thevoice memo can then be played via a speaker thereby allowing the user tolisten to the message while driving without getting distracted fromdriving. In some embodiments, the voice memo can include details like,but not limited to, the following: 1) who is the sender; 2) who are inthe “To” field list; 3) the contents of the subject line; 4) thecontents of the body of the e-mail or message; 5) timing of the message(e.g., e-mail); and/or the like. Various embodiments allow the user tocustomize the contents of the voice memo as well as create conversioncriteria for which messages can be converted to a voice memo.

Some embodiments allow a user to reply/send a response using the same ordifferent communication channel (e.g., e-mail) by inserting a voice memowhich is then converted to text and sent to a desired recipient. Theuser may also want to review the voice memo, modify the list in one ormore fields (e.g., the “To” field, the “Cc” field, the “Bcc” field,etc.) before the voice memo is converted to the message (e.g., e-mailtext).

In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of embodiments of the present technology. It will beapparent, however, to one skilled in the art that embodiments of thepresent technology may be practiced without some of these specificdetails. While, for convenience, embodiments of the present technologyare described with reference to conversion of messages to voice memos,embodiments of the present technology are equally applicable otherconversions and notifications in response to incoming messages.

The techniques introduced here can be embodied as special-purposehardware (e.g., circuitry), as programmable circuitry appropriatelyprogrammed with software and/or firmware, or as a combination ofspecial-purpose and programmable circuitry. Hence, embodiments mayinclude a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructionswhich may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) toperform a process. The machine-readable medium may include, but is notlimited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, compact disc read-onlymemories (CD-ROMs), magneto-optical disks, ROMs, random access memories(RAMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or opticalcards, flash memory, or other type of media/machine-readable mediumsuitable for storing electronic instructions.

The phrases “in some embodiments,” “according to some embodiments,” “inthe embodiments shown,” “in other embodiments,” and the like generallymean the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following thephrase is included in at least one implementation of the presenttechnology, and may be included in more than one implementation. Inaddition, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodimentsor different embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a communications environment 100 inwhich some embodiments of the present technology may be utilized. Asillustrated in FIG. 1 , communications environment 100 may include oneor more electronic devices 110A-110N (such as a mobile phone, tabletcomputer, mobile media device, vehicle-based computer, wearablecomputing device, etc.), vehicles 120A-120N, communications network 130,application servers 140A-140N, conversion platform 150 and database 160.

Electronic devices 110A-110N can include network communicationcomponents that enable the electronic devices to communicate with remoteapplication servers 140A-140N, conversion platform 150, and/or otherportable electronic devices by transmitting and receiving wirelesssignals using licensed, semi-licensed or unlicensed spectrum overcommunications network 130. In some cases, communication network 130 maybe comprised of multiple networks, even multiple heterogeneous networks,such as one or more border networks, voice networks, broadband networks,service provider networks, Internet Service Provider (ISP) networks,and/or Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs), interconnected viagateways operable to facilitate communications between and among thevarious networks. Communications network 130 can also includethird-party communications networks such as a Global System for Mobile(GSM) mobile communications network, a code/time division multipleaccess (CDMA/TDMA) mobile communications network, a 3rd or 4thgeneration (3G/4G) mobile communications network (e.g., General PacketRadio Service (GPRS/EGPRS)), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), or Long TermEvolution (LTE) network), or other communications network.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various other components(not shown) may be included in electronic devices 110A-110N to enablenetwork communication. For example, an electronic device may beconfigured to communicate over a GSM mobile telecommunications network.As a result, the electronic device may include a Subscriber IdentityModule (SIM) card that stores an International Mobile SubscriberIdentity (IMSI) number that is used to identify the mobile device on theGSM mobile communications network or other networks, for example, thoseemploying 3G, 4G, and/or 5G wireless protocols. If the electronic deviceis configured to communicate over another communications network, theelectronic device may include other components that enable it to beidentified on the other communications networks.

In some embodiments, electronic devices 110A-110N may include componentsthat enable them to connect to a communications network using GenericAccess Network (GAN) or Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) standards andprotocols. For example, an electronic device may include components thatsupport Internet Protocol (IP)-based communication over a Wireless LocalArea Network (WLAN) and components that enable communication with thetelecommunications network over the IP-based WLAN. Electronic devices110A-110N may include one or more sensors and/or applications that needto transfer data or check-in with application servers 140A-140N, and/orconversion platform 150.

In some embodiments, an owner of an electronic device can subscribe(e.g., register and/or pay a fee) to a conversion service that isprovided by conversion platform 150 and/or an application running on theelectronic device. Electronic devices 110A-110N can monitor for varioustriggering events. In response to detecting a triggering event,electronic devices 110A-110N can be placed in a driving mode. While inthe driving mode written messages received, for example, via e-mail,text messaging, and the like can be converted into a voice memo which isplayed via a speaker of the electronic device or an external speakersystem such as in vehicle 120A-120N.

In some embodiments, the electronic devices 110A-110N can send a messageto application server 140A-140N and/or conversion platform 150 viacommunications network 130. Conversion platform 150 can access database160 to lookup a set of conversion rules for electronic device 110A-110Nand/or user. These rules can identify how various communicationconversions should be handled and delivered to the subscriber and/orother third-parties. In some embodiments, conversion platform 150(and/or a conversion application running on an electronic device) maytranscribe to text in the sender's language, then transcribe into therecipient's desired language. Also, a text-to-speech conversion could bedone by electronic devices 110A-110N, or via a server in the network.

FIG. 2 illustrates a set of components of an electronic device 110A-110Naccording to one or more embodiments of the present technology. As shownin FIG. 2 , electronic device 110A-110N may include memory 205 (e.g.,volatile memory and/or nonvolatile memory), power supply 210 (e.g.,battery), processor(s) 215 for executing processing instructions, andoperating system 220. Additional components and applications such asconversion application 225, one or more network interfaces (e.g.,Bluetooth Interface 230; and Network Communication Interface 235, whichenables the electronic device to communicate by transmitting andreceiving wireless signals using licensed, semi-licensed or unlicensedspectrum over a telecommunications network), audio interface 240,microphone 245, display 250, keypad or keyboard 255, data storage 260(e.g., hard drive, flash memory, memory card, etc.), and other inputand/or output interfaces 265. The various components of the electronicdevice may be interconnected via a bus.

Processor(s) 215 are the main processors of electronic device 110A-110Nwhich may include application processors, baseband processors, variouscoprocessors, and other dedicated processors for operating electronicdevice 110A-110N. For example, an application processor can provide theprocessing power to support software applications, memory management,graphics processing, and multimedia. An application processor may becommunicably coupled with memory 205 and configured to run the operatingsystem, the user interface, and the applications stored on memory 205 ordata storage component 260. A baseband processor may be configured toperform signal processing and implement/manage real-time radiotransmission operations of electronic device 110A-110N. These processorsalong with the other components may be powered by power supply 210. Thevolatile and nonvolatile memories found in various embodiments mayinclude storage media for storing information such as processor-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Someexamples of information that may be stored include basic input/outputsystems (BIOS), operating systems, and applications.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a set of operations 300 forautomatically generating and playing a voice memo in accordance withsome embodiments of the present technology. As illustrated in FIG. 3 ,monitoring operation 310 monitors for a triggering event. In accordancewith various embodiments, the triggering event can include a manualindication from a user or an automated determination. For example, theautomated determination in some embodiments can include a connection(e.g., via Bluetooth) with a vehicular audio system, specific movements(e.g., moving above a threshold speed), movements along a roadway, basedon positional information (e.g., where a car was parked), and/or thelike.

Using this information, determination operation 320 determines whetheror not to place the electronic device into a driving mode. Whendetermination operation 320 determines that the electronic device shouldnot be placed in driving mode, determination operation 320 branches tomonitoring operation 310. When determination operation 320 determinesthat the electronic device should be placed in driving mode,determination operation 320 branches to communication operation 330 tomonitor for messages such as, but not limited to, e-mails, SMS messages,push notifications, written communications and/or other messages thatmay require interaction from the user to read.

Conversion operation 340 determines if the message meets any conversionrules. The conversion rules, for example, may indicate that all messagesshould be converted to voice memos. Other conversion rules may restrictthe conversion to certain types of messages (e.g., only e-mail or textmessages), from certain recipients, from certain applications (e.g.,from Gmail only), and/or the like. The rules may be static or may changedepending on the amount of time the electronic device is in the drivingmode. As one example, a user may set the conversion rules to onlyconvert written e-mails from specific people when the driving mode hasbeen activated less than a specific period of time (e.g., only after theuser was driving for ten minutes). Beyond this specific period of timethe user may request that other messages be converted to a voice memo(e.g., all work e-mails or certain text messages). Various embodimentsallow for multiple time periods and/or conditions (e.g., location based,based on estimated navigational arrival time, etc.) for setting theconversion rules.

When conversion operation 340 determines that the conversion rules arenot met, then conversion operation 340 branches to monitoring operation330 to monitor for additional messages. When conversion operation 340determines that the conversion rules have been met, then conversionoperation 340 branches to transcription operation 350 where the messagesare translated into voice memos. The voice memos can include a varietyof information, metadata or tags about the original message. Thisinformation can include, but is not limited to, the application, thesender, the recipient list, time stamp, and/or other information.Moreover, the transcription of the messages into voice memos may be donelocally by the electronic device and/or remotely (e.g., via conversionplatform 150 shown in FIG. 1 ). Where the conversion happens may bebased on a variety of factors, such as but not limited to, length of themessage, strength of cellular signal, battery life, number of messagesto be translated, user preferences, and/or other factors. For example,messages below a certain threshold may be translated locally whensufficient battery life and signal strength are available. Once themessages have been converted to voice memos, listen operation 360 playsthe voice memo allowing the user to review the contents while minimizingvisual distractions.

FIG. 4 is flowchart illustrating a set of operations 400 for replying toa voice memo in accordance with various embodiments of the presenttechnology. As illustrated in FIG. 4 , receiving operation 410 receivesa response request to reply to a voice memo. The response may bereceived, in accordance with various embodiments, via controls on asteering wheel of a vehicle, one or more voice commands, visuallyrecognized gestures, and/or the like. The user may be guided through aresponse menu that allows them to select (e.g., via gestures, voicecommands, etc.) various response options such as the response channel(e.g., e-mail, SMS, etc.), recipients, delivery time, and/or the like.Once the response options have been selected, recordation operation 420records the voice memo which is then translated using conversionoperation 430 into a written response message. The written responsemessage can then be transmitted to one or more recipients via one ormore selected channels.

FIG. 5 is an example of a graphical user interface 500 that may be usedin accordance with some embodiments of the present technology. Inaccordance with various embodiments, graphical user interface 500 may bepart of a stand-alone application, accessed via a thin client, deployedvia the cloud, or even integrated at the operating system level. Thegraphical user interface may be displayed in response to a request froma user, detection of a triggering event, and/or other condition.

As illustrated in FIG. 5 , graphical user interface 500 can includepolicy setup bar 510 that can allows a user of an electronic device tosetup policies and/or modify policies. These policies can include itemssuch as the triggering events, location rules, conversion rules, and/orthe like. The conversion rules, for example, may indicate that allwritten messages should be converted to voice memos. Other conversionrules may restrict the conversion to certain types of written messages(e.g., only e-mail or text messages), from certain recipients, fromcertain applications (e.g., from Gmail only), and/or the like.

The conversion rules may be static or may change depending on the amountof time the electronic device is in the driving mode. As one example, auser may set the conversion rules to only convert written e-mails fromspecific people when the driving mode has been activated less than aspecific period of time (e.g., ten minutes). Beyond this specific periodof time the user may request that other written messages be converted toa voice memo (e.g., all work e-mails or certain text messages). Variousembodiments allow for multiple time periods and/or conditions (e.g.,location based, based on estimated navigational arrival time, etc.) forsetting the conversion rules.

In addition to policy setup, graphical user interface 500 may include anaction bar 520 that allows a user to manually activate or deactivatedriving mode. Graphical user interface may include a visual mediacontroller 530 identifying the message and providing manual controls.

FIG. 6 is an example of a sequence diagram 600 illustratingcommunications between various components that may be used in accordancewith one or more embodiments of the present technology. As illustratedin FIG. 6 , user device 610 can move between a driving mode and anon-driving mode. When the user device is in a driving mode, a routingmessage can be sent to application server 620. In some embodiments, therouting message configures the application server to send futuremessages to user device 610 and a duplicate message to conversionplatform 630. When the message is received at conversion platform 630,the message can be translated into a voice memo and then transmitted touser device 610. Upon receiving the voice memo, user device 610 can playthe message (e.g., using a Bluetooth connection to vehicle 640). Whenthe user device switched back to a normal driving mode, an updatedrouting message can be sent to application server 620 so that any futuremessages are just sent to user device 610 and not conversion platform630.

Exemplary Computer System Overview

Aspects and implementations of the voice memo conversion system of thedisclosure have been described in the general context of various stepsand operations. A variety of these steps and operations may be performedby hardware components or may be embodied in computer-executableinstructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose orspecial-purpose processor (e.g., in a computer, server, or othercomputing device) programmed with the instructions to perform the stepsor operations. For example, the steps or operations may be performed bya combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example machine representingthe computer systemization of the conversion system. The conversioncontroller 700 may be in communication with entities including one ormore users 725, client/terminal/IoT devices 720 (e.g., devices110A-110N), user input devices 705, peripheral devices 710, an optionalco-processor device(s) (e.g., cryptographic processor devices) 715, andnetworks 730 (e.g., 120 in FIG. 1 ). Users may engage with thecontroller 700 via terminal devices 720 over networks 730.

Computers may employ central processing unit (CPU) or processor toprocess information. Processors may include programmable general-purposeor special-purpose microprocessors, programmable controllers,application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logicdevices (PLDs), embedded components, combination of such devices and thelike. Processors execute program components in response to user and/orsystem-generated requests. One or more of these components may beimplemented in software, hardware or both hardware and software.Processors pass instructions (e.g., operational and data instructions)to enable various operations.

The controller 700 may include clock 765, CPU 770, memory such as readonly memory (ROM) 785 and random access memory (RAM) 780 andco-processor 775 among others. These controller components may beconnected to a system bus 760, and through the system bus 760 to aninterface bus 735. Further, user input devices 705, peripheral devices710, co-processor devices 715, and the like, may be connected throughthe interface bus 735 to the system bus 760. The interface bus 735 maybe connected to a number of interface adapters such as processorinterface 740, input output interfaces (I/O) 745, network interfaces750, storage interfaces 755, and the like.

Processor interface 740 may facilitate communication betweenco-processor devices 715 and co-processor 775. In one implementation,processor interface 740 may expedite encryption and decryption ofrequests or data. Input output interfaces (I/O) 745 facilitatecommunication between user input devices 705, peripheral devices 710,co-processor devices 715, and/or the like and components of thecontroller 700 using protocols such as those for handling audio, data,video interface, wireless transceivers, or the like (e.g., Bluetooth,IEEE 1394a-b, serial, universal serial bus (USB), Digital VisualInterface (DVI), 802.11a/b/g/n/x, cellular, etc.). Network interfaces750 may be in communication with the network 730. Through the network730, the controller 700 may be accessible to remote terminal devices720. Network interfaces 750 may use various wired and wirelessconnection protocols such as, direct connect, Ethernet, wirelessconnection such as IEEE 802.11a-x, and the like.

Examples of network 730 include the Internet, Local Area Network (LAN),Metropolitan Area Network (MAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), wirelessnetwork (e.g., using Wireless Application Protocol WAP), a securedcustom connection, and the like. The network interfaces 750 can includea firewall which can, in some aspects, govern and/or manage permissionto access/proxy data in a computer network, and track varying levels oftrust between different machines and/or applications. The firewall canbe any number of modules having any combination of hardware and/orsoftware components able to enforce a predetermined set of access rightsbetween a particular set of machines and applications, machines andmachines, and/or applications and applications, for example, to regulatethe flow of traffic and resource sharing between these varying entities.The firewall may additionally manage and/or have access to an accesscontrol list which details permissions including, for example, theaccess and operation rights of an object by an individual, a machine,and/or an application, and the circumstances under which the permissionrights stand. Other network security functions performed or included inthe functions of the firewall, can be, for example, but are not limitedto, intrusion-prevention, intrusion detection, next-generation firewall,personal firewall, etc., without deviating from the novel art of thisdisclosure.

Storage interfaces 755 may be in communication with a number of storagedevices such as, storage devices 790, removable disc devices, and thelike. The storage interfaces 755 may use various connection protocolssuch as Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), IEEE 1394,Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), and the like.

User input devices 705 and peripheral devices 710 may be connected toI/O interface 745 and potentially other interfaces, buses and/orcomponents. User input devices 705 may include card readers, fingerprint readers, joysticks, keyboards, microphones, mouse, remotecontrols, retina readers, touch screens, sensors, and/or the like.Peripheral devices 710 may include antenna, audio devices (e.g.,microphone, speakers, etc.), cameras, external processors, communicationdevices, radio frequency identifiers (RFIDs), scanners, printers,storage devices, transceivers, and/or the like. Co-processor devices 715may be connected to the controller 700 through interface bus 735, andmay include microcontrollers, processors, interfaces or other devices.

Computer executable instructions and data may be stored in memory (e.g.,registers, cache memory, random access memory, flash, etc.) which isaccessible by processors. These stored instruction codes (e.g.,programs) may engage the processor components, motherboard and/or othersystem components to perform desired operations. The controller 700 mayemploy various forms of memory including on-chip CPU memory (e.g.,registers), RAM 780, ROM 785, and storage devices 790. Storage devices790 may employ any number of tangible, non-transitory storage devices orsystems such as fixed or removable magnetic disk drive, an opticaldrive, solid state memory devices and other processor-readable storagemedia. Computer-executable instructions stored in the memory may includethe conversion platform 150 having one or more program modules such asroutines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and so on thatperform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.For example, the memory may contain operating system (OS) component 795,modules and other components, database tables, and the like. Thesemodules/components may be stored and accessed from the storage devices,including from external storage devices accessible through an interfacebus.

The database components can store programs executed by the processor toprocess the stored data. The database components may be implemented inthe form of a database that is relational, scalable and secure. Examplesof such database include DB2, MySQL, Oracle, Sybase, and the like.Alternatively, the database may be implemented using various standarddata-structures, such as an array, hash, list, stack, structured textfile (e.g., XML), table, and/or the like. Such data-structures may bestored in memory and/or in structured files.

The controller 700 may be implemented in distributed computingenvironments, where tasks or modules are performed by remote processingdevices, which are linked through a communications network, such as aLocal Area Network (“LAN”), Wide Area Network (“WAN”), the Internet, andthe like. In a distributed computing environment, program modules orsubroutines may be located in both local and remote memory storagedevices. Distributed computing may be employed to load balance and/oraggregate resources for processing. Alternatively, aspects of thecontroller 700 may be distributed electronically over the Internet orover other networks (including wireless networks). Those skilled in therelevant art(s) will recognize that portions of the conversion systemmay reside on a server computer, while corresponding portions reside ona client computer. Data structures and transmission of data particularto aspects of the controller 700 are also encompassed within the scopeof the disclosure.

Conclusion

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of“including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,”“coupled,” or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling,either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling orconnection between the elements can be physical, logical, or acombination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,”and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer tothis application as a whole and not to any particular portions of thisapplication. Where the context permits, words in the above DetailedDescription using the singular or plural number may also include theplural or singular number respectively. The word “or,” in reference to alist of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretationsof the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list,and any combination of the items in the list.

The above Detailed Description of examples of the technology is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise formdisclosed above. While specific examples for the technology aredescribed above for illustrative purposes, various equivalentmodifications are possible within the scope of the technology, as thoseskilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processesor blocks are presented in a given order, alternative implementationsmay perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in adifferent order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved,added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative orsubcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented ina variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are attimes shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks mayinstead be performed or implemented in parallel, or may be performed atdifferent times. Further any specific numbers noted herein are onlyexamples: alternative implementations may employ differing values orranges.

The teachings of the technology provided herein can be applied to othersystems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements andacts of the various examples described above can be combined to providefurther implementations of the technology. Some alternativeimplementations of the technology may include not only additionalelements to those implementations noted above, but also may includefewer elements.

These and other changes can be made to the technology in light of theabove Detailed Description. While the above description describescertain examples of the technology, and describes the best modecontemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, thetechnology can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may varyconsiderably in its specific implementation, while still beingencompassed by the technology disclosed herein. As noted above,particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspectsof the technology should not be taken to imply that the terminology isbeing redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics,features, or aspects of the technology with which that terminology isassociated. In general, the terms used in the following claims shouldnot be construed to limit the technology to the specific examplesdisclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Descriptionsection explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope ofthe technology encompasses not only the disclosed examples, but also allequivalent ways of practicing or implementing the technology under theclaims.

To reduce the number of claims, certain aspects of the technology arepresented below in certain claim forms, but the applicant contemplatesthe various aspects of the technology in any number of claim forms. Forexample, while only one aspect of the technology is recited as acomputer-readable medium claim, other aspects may likewise be embodiedas a computer-readable medium claim, or in other forms, such as beingembodied in a means-plus-function claim. Any claims intended to betreated under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) will begin with the words “means for”,but use of the term “for” in any other context is not intended to invoketreatment under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). Accordingly, the applicant reservesthe right to pursue additional claims after filing this application topursue such additional claim forms, in either this application or in acontinuing application.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for operating an electronic device, themethod comprising: receiving, at the electronic device and via awireless network, one or more incoming messages; accessing, using anidentifier associated with the electronic device, a set of rulesassociated with the electronic device, wherein the rules indicatecriteria for converting incoming messages to audio messages, and whereinthe criteria are based on one or more of the following: an applicationvia which an incoming message was received, a sender of the incomingmessage, a type of sender of the incoming message, a type of theincoming message, a duration of activation of a driving mode ofoperation of the electronic device, or an estimated navigational arrivaltime; evaluating, based on the rules, whether to convert at least one ofthe one or more incoming messages into an audio message; and causing theaudio message to be output via a speaker communicatively-coupled to theelectronic device or to a vehicle associated with the electronic device.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, via amicrophone, a reply request to respond to the audio message played viathe speaker; recording, via the microphone, a reply message; convertingthe reply message received via the microphone to text; and transmit, viathe wireless network, the text to one or more recipients.
 3. The methodof claim 1, wherein the electronic device includes an application thatuses a processor of the electronic device to translate the at least oneof the one or more incoming messages to the audio message.
 4. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: submitting, via the wireless network, atleast one of the one or more incoming messages from the electronicdevice to a platform, wherein the platform provides a fee-for-service oftext to speech; and wherein upon receiving the at least one of the oneor more incoming messages from the electronic device, the platformgenerates the audio message; and receiving, at the electronic device viathe wireless network, the audio message.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the speaker is part of an external speaker system separate fromthe electronic device and wherein, as part of transitioning to thedriving mode of operation, the method further includes connecting theelectronic device to the external speaker system via a short rangecommunication channel.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the rules arebased in part on a speed of the electronic device above a threshold. 7.The method of claim 1, further comprising: recording, by the electronicdevice, a location of a parked car; and wherein the rules are based inpart on detecting that the electronic device has returned to thelocation of the parked car.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein one ormore of the rules identifies a sender and an application, theapplication translating the one or more incoming messages to one or moreaudio messages.
 9. An electronic device comprising: at least oneprocessor; an identification module configured to determine whether atriggering event has occurred; a communication module configured togenerate and transmit an activation message to a platform that thetriggering event has occurred, wherein the activation message includesan identifier of the electronic device; wherein the platform translatesan incoming message, intended for the electronic device, to an audiomessage; and wherein the platform only translates the incoming messageto the audio message when the incoming message is received within afirst time period during a driving mode within which incoming messageare to be converted to audio messages and not during a second timeperiod during the driving mode within which incoming message are not tobe converted to audio messages; and an application running on theelectronic device to connect the electronic device to a speaker of avehicle or communicatively coupled to the electronically device and playthe audio message received from the platform.
 10. The electronic deviceof claim 9, wherein the incoming message comprises an e-mail, a SMSmessage, or a push notification.
 11. The electronic device of claim 9,wherein the triggering event comprises a manual indication received viaa user interface from a user of the electronic device or an automaticdetermination based on a speed and/or location of the vehicle in whichthe electronic device is located.
 12. The electronic device of claim 9,wherein the electronic device includes another application that, inresponse to an inability to communicate with the platform, translatesthe incoming message using the processor of the electronic device. 13.At least one computer-readable medium, excluding transitory signals andstoring instructions, which when executed by an electronic device,perform operations for operating the electronic device, the operationscomprising: receiving, at the electronic device and via a wirelessnetwork, one or more incoming messages; accessing, using an identifierassociated with the electronic device, a set of rules associated withthe electronic device, wherein the rules indicate criteria forconverting incoming messages to audio messages, and wherein the criteriaare based on one or more of the following: an application via which anincoming message was received, a sender of the incoming message, a typeof sender of the incoming message, a type of the incoming message, aduration of activation of a driving mode of operation of the electronicdevice, or an estimated navigational arrival time; evaluating, based onthe rules, whether to convert at least one of the one or more incomingmessages into an audio message; and causing the audio message to beoutput via a speaker communicatively-coupled to the electronic device orto a vehicle associated with the electronic device.
 14. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions whichwhen executed by the electronic device, further perform operationscomprising: submitting, via the wireless network, at least one of theone or more incoming messages to a platform when battery life of theelectronic device is below a threshold value, wherein upon receiving theat least one of the one or more incoming messages from the electronicdevice, the platform generates the audio message; and receiving, via thewireless network, the audio message.
 15. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 13, wherein the instructions which when executed by the electronicdevice, further perform operations comprising: receiving, via amicrophone, a reply request to respond to the audio message played viathe speaker; recording, via the microphone, a response message;converting the response message received via the microphone to text; andtransmit, via the wireless network, the text to one or more recipients.16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the electronicdevice includes an application that uses a processor of the electronicdevice to translate the at least one of the one or more incomingmessages into the audio message.
 17. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 13, wherein the instructions which when executed by the electronicdevice, further perform operations comprising: submitting, via thewireless network, at least one of the one or more incoming messages fromthe electronic device to a service, wherein the service provides afee-for-service of alphanumeric data to audio data; and wherein uponreceiving the at least one of the one or more incoming messages from theelectronic device, the service generates the audio message; andreceiving, at the electronic device via the wireless network, the audiomessage.
 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein thespeaker is part of an external speaker system separate from theelectronic device and wherein transitioning to the driving mode furthercomprises connecting the electronic device to the external speakersystem via a short range communication channel.
 19. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the rules are based inpart on a speed of the electronic device being above a threshold value.20. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:recording, by the electronic device, a location of a parked car; andwherein the rules are based in part on detecting that the electronicdevice has returned to the location of the parked car.